CHARITY volunteer Ruth Loft will meet the Prince of Wales when she attends the opening of the UK's first breast cancer research centre on Wednesday, December 8.

Ruth, of Ryburn Avenue, Blackburn, a worker for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, has spearheaded a fund-raising campaign which has brought in £40,000 from people in East Lancashire towards the cost of the centre.

The Prince of Wales is the charity's patron.

The centre is located at the Institute of Cancer Research, alongside the Royal Marsden Hospital in London's Brompton Road and has been funded by Breakthrough, which was established in 1991 to raise £15 million.

Now that this has been achieved, Breakthrough will continue raising money for research through its many groups and volunteers around the country, with Professor Alan Ashworth, originally from Bolton, as director.

Caroline Gilg, group development co-ordinator for the charity, said: "Breakthrough's vision is a future free from the fear of breast cancer, a future we can work towards by investing in breast cancer research."

Ruth said: "It took a life-threatening illness to make me appreciate what really matters and to realise the importance of setting goals.

"As a volunteer for Breakthrough for nearly eight years, I am proud to have been part of our wonderful achievements and wish to thank my family, friends and colleagues who have helped to raise more than £40,000.

"Sadly, some of our fundraisers are no longer with us, but they will never be forgotten, especially as their names are recorded on the centre's 'Wall of Names'."

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